Concrete fence-post and wire-attaching means.



W. C. MARTINS.

CONCRETE FENCE POST AND WIRE ATTACHING MEANS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31. 1915.

1,174,749, I Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

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THE LGLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 10., WASHINGTON, D. c.

WILLIAM C. MARTINS, 0E DIEELERICH, ILLINOIS.

CONCRETE FENCE-POST AND WIRE-ATTACHING MEANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. *2, 1916.

Application filed March 31, 1915. Serial No. 18,363..

ToaZl whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lViLLIAM C. MARTINs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dieterich, in the county ofv Etfingham and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concrete Fence- Posts and \VireAttaching Means, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to certa1n new and useful improvements in concrete fence posts and wire attaching means there for, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby the fence wires can be easily attached to the fencepost or removed therefrom.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which does notinterfere with the handling of the fence post in the usual manner, and which holds the fence wires securely in position so that they cannot be displaced by live stock.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended. claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a concrete fence post provided with wire attaching means constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view through the post, showing one of the keepers through which the wire retain-- ing rod is inserted.

()orrespondingand like parts arereferred to in the followingdescription and ind1- cated in all the views of the drawing 'by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the present embodiment of the invention, the numeral 1 designates the body portion of a fence post which is-formed of some suitable plastic ma terial such as concrete and which preferably has a tapered formation, graduallydecreas ing in cross section from the base toward the upper end thereof. The post has a polygonal cross section, being shown in the present instance as square, and the front thereof is formed with a series of transversely disposed wire receiving seats or grooves 2 within which the various fence wires 3 are fitted. The base of the fence post is designed to be embedded in the ground in the usual manner and the wire receiving grooves 2 are properly spaced in the portion of the post which would project above the ground to hold the fence wires in the desired positions.

Projecting from the front of the fence post at a point adjacent to each of the wire receiving grooves 2 is a keeper 4, the lower keeper being disposed slightly below the lower wire receiving groove 2, while the remaining keepers are disposed slightly above the respective wire receiving grooves 2. The various keepers dare arranged in alinement with each otherand are designed to receive a w1re retainingrod 5, theupper end of the rod being preferably provided.

with a suitable finger piece 6, while the lower end thereof extends downwardly into the ground and preferably projects a short distance below the base of the post 1 when in operative position.

The keepers 4 are substantially U-shaped and may be inexpensively constructed of stiff wire. The arms of the keepers are'embedded in the body portion of the fence post and have the extremities thereof extended laterally in opposite directions, as indicated at i so as to be firmly anchored in position. The keepers are applied to the post when molding the same and while the concrete is still ina plastic condition.

As shown by Fig. 3, the post 1 is provided with a reinforcing rod extending longitudinally through the center thereof. The keepers i are connected to this reinforcing rod 7 by suitable tie members 8 so that there is absolutely no danger of the keepers being pulled out of the fence posteven when subjected to unusually severe use. These tie members 8 may be in the form of lengths of wire, intermediate portions of the wire being coiled or looped around the reinforcin rod 7. while the extremities of the wire are coiled around the laterally extending feet 4 of the keepers d, as indicated at 8*. A. strong and rigid construction is thus provided with the keepers securely tied to the reinforcing rod 7 so that there is no possibility of the keeper being accidentally torn away from the fence post.

The wire receiving grooves 2 are made comparatively shallow so that all of the fence wires 3 will be forced into a firm engageinent with the Wire retaining and light ning'arresting rod 5. The fence wires are thus held securely in proper position, although they can be readily released at any time by grasping the handle 6 and withdrawing the rod 5 from engagement with the keepers 4. The lower end of the rod 6 extends downwardly a considerable distance into the earth, preferably projecting below the base of the post, as shown, and this rod is galvanized or coppered so that it will resist the corrosive effects of the elements and will give satisfactory service for a long period of time. Not only are the fence wires 3 securely anchored in position upon the post, but they are all held in engagement with the rod 5 so that if any portion of the fence is struck by lightning the electricity will be immediately gnunded through adjacent rods 5, and will thereby be prevented from traveling along the fence and doing possible injury to live stock or buildings.- The lower end of the rod 5 is preferably pointed as indicated at 5 so that it can be readily driven into or inserted in the ground. Owing to the fact that the lower end thereof extends below the base of the fence post, it will always enter the solid ground below the same and there will be no danger of the rod being improperly grounded in the filled in soil around the fence post.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is r The combination of a post formed of plastic material and having a transversely disposed wire receiving groove in the front thereof, a reinforcing rcd extending longitudinally through the post and embedded therein, U-shaped keepers having the looped ends thereof projecting from the front of the post while the arms thereof are e1nbedded in the post, the extremities of the arms being bent laterally in opposite direc tions, wire tie members embedded in the post and havingintermediate portions thereof coiled around the longitudinal reinforcing rod while the end portions thereof are extended forwardly and coiled around the laterally extended extremities of the L shaped keepers so as to bind the keepers to the reinforcing rod, and a wire retaining rod fitted removably within the projecting looped ends of the keepers so as to retain the fence wire securely in position within the wire receiving groove.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM C. MARTINS. Witnesses:

S. F. TOLCH, GEO. GRooTHIUs.

Copies of thispatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

